The NCW statement added that Prasar Bharati’s report said it has taken action against the accused after “nine cases of sexual harassment were received against the accused officer of AIR”.

Prasar Bharati CEO Shashi Shekhar Vempati said these issues would be discussed at the board meeting. The board had last “deliberated” on a draft of the MoU in September 2017, after which it had given its nod.

The order was issued on July 6, 2017, within a week of N K Sinha taking over as I&B Secretary on June 30 — and nearly two weeks before Smriti Irani was named I&B Minister on July 18, replacing M Venkaiah Naidu who became Vice President.

Prasar Bharati, the national public broadcaster, though autonomous, is attached to the I&B Ministry. Drops plan to recruit 2 journalists, says too exorbitant.

"The story of emergency should be told to every generation; for the protection of democratic values, it is very important that they know what happens when democracy is derailed", said Prasar Bharati chairperson A Surya Prakash.